The 14 things no one tells you to prepare for when becoming a York student

Congratulations! You’ve got your offer to study at the University of York in 2024 and you can now officially start getting excited (and of course slightly terrified) for the year ahead. Whether you’ve already started picking out bedding from IKEA, eyeing up mugs from your cupboard to smuggle to uni or instead refusing to pack anything until the day before, you’re probably trying to picture just what your life is going to be like next year.

Whilst you can’t know exactly what to expect until you get here (no matter how many Freshers’ Week vlogs you watch), here are 14 things that no one seems to tell you to prepare for when becoming a student at the University of York in 2024, even though they definitely should.

1. Geese

Sure, you’ve likely heard about the legend that is Long Boi (RIP) and even perhaps had a sneak peek of the amount of birds on campus. But I’ll tell you right now, you haven’t fully grasped the amount of geese that lurk on both campuses. If you do have a (not entirely irrational) fear of these beaked creatures, then now is probably a good time to start working on that.

Going to your 9am? You will be confronted by a goose at this early hour. Walking to the library? You’ll probably have to brave walking through a gaggle at some point. Coming back from the club? Be prepared to drunkenly run away from a goose as you make it back to your accom. By the end of this year, your fear will be either be completely gone, thanks to the sheer amount of geese encounters, or, if you’re unlucky, it will have completely intensified.

2. Registering for a GP

On a more serious note, it’s probably a good idea to register for a GP near the university well before you’re struck down by Freshers’ Flu. It’s no surprise that GPs near universities will take a while to process the high numbers of new patients, so it’s a good idea to get your registration in rather than waiting until you need to make an appointment. Luckily, the Uni of York has a GP surgery on Campus East, Kimberlow Hill, conveniently placed next to Greggs.

3. You might actually learn to love clubbing in York

You may have been warned that the clubbing scene in York isn’t all that, however, you just need to give it a chance – don’t be afraid of trying out the clubs beyond your Freshers experience. Whether you’re into the classic club hits and find your place in Salvos (the name DJ Jason Riley will soon become very recognisable to you), or whether you become fond of a Throwback Thursday at Flares or a cheeky Indie Tuesday, at least one of the York clubs will soon have a special place in your heart. This time next year you’ll probably be secretly itching for a York night out.

4. Treks to the supermarket

Honestly, I would highly recommend bringing a backpack to uni because the trek from campus to either Aldi or Lidl armed with only a tote bag is a painful experience. Perhaps you could even look into splitting food deliveries with your flat, or try and tempt a flatmate into making the supermarket trek with you and lightening the load (emotionally at least).

5. Christmas markets

Christmas markets in a beautiful historical city, sounds cute right? As a brand new University of York student in 2024 however, you’ll probably soon come to decide that these markets are overrated and breathe a sigh of relief when you return to slightly more peaceful streets in January.

Perhaps you’re thinking that this warning is a little early, but when Christmas crowds start flooding the streets the moment that Halloween is over, you’ll be glad that you’ve mentally prepared. Forget going downtown on a weekend during these winter months, but take this as the perfect chance to explore some of York’s less touristy spots or perhaps venture outside the city.

6. Post night-out medieval architecture appreciation

With that being said, you’ll probably find that the post-club quest for cheesy chips will provide you with the best views of York’s medieval streets without any tourists. While these memories may be a little blurry, along with any pictures you’ve attempted to take of the deserted Shambles, these are probably the best moments to experience the true atmosphere of York’s old town.

7. Trips to the Minster, because it’s free

Even if cathedrals don’t seem like your thing, be prepared to make several trips into the Minster because, as you are now officially a 2024 University of York student and York resident, it’s completely free! As spectacular as the inside of the cathedral is, no one can quite prepare you for the pure thrill you’ll get from skipping the queue of tourists and saving £18 on a ticket.

8. Fancy dress

If you’re planning on joining one of the uni’s many sports societies, then get ready to crack out some wacky costumes for their nights out. You’ll probably find yourself making a trip to York’s very well-stocked fancy dress shop, Festival of Fun, in search of anything from animal ears to police hats long before Halloween. When Halloween week finally does come around, conveniently placed within consolidation week (yay), you better be prepared to go to town as York students do not hold back on the opportunity to get creative with their attire.

9. Bars, pubs and pub quizzes

The myth that York has a pub for everyday of the year may have played a role in your university decision, but you’ll soon come to learn which of York’s many pubs and bars are catered towards tourists and which are a little more student friendly. After a bit of trial and error, you’ll soon find your favourite bar for a quick pres or your favourite pub for a more chill night out. Just be mentally prepared for Stone Roses’ famous blue shit which perhaps masks the treble Vodka shot a little too well.

As a York student, be prepared to find yourself attending at least five pub quizzes throughout the year. Even if your coursework may suffer from these spontaneous pub trips, your general and pop culture knowledge will be on point by the end of the year.

10. Getting lost on campus

Getting lost on campus is practically a rite of passage for any uni student, but you’ll get there eventually. In the meantime, the MyUoY app will definitely help you find your way around, just make sure to type in the room number into the map’s search bar exactly as it’s written on your timetable (forward slashes and all), otherwise you may end up on the other side of the campus. If in doubt, there’s absolutely no shame in asking someone for directions, no matter how far into the year it is…

11. Bunnies!

To make up for the threatening geese on campus, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the adorable rabbits and, in the spring, the bunnies that hop throughout the campuses. They’re pretty scared of humans, so good luck trying to get near them x

12. Vikings??

On a trip into town, be mentally prepared to find yourself in the midst of a Viking battle reenactment – it happens. There’s been a few viral TikToks over the last year about the average day in York, popping into Primark and coming out to a hundred vikings shouting in the street. Only in York…

13. Waiting at traffic lights

No one seems to talk about just how long you have to wait at traffic lights when walking into York centre. If you need to be somewhere at a certain time, make sure to factor in at least five minutes for the amount of time you’ll be waiting for the green man. York is one of the best cities in the country for walking and cycling, but that means the roads on the outskirts of town are even more packed. There’s a reason the buses always rock up 15 minutes late (or just never turn up at all).

14. You might not need to buy three extension cords from IKEA

Almost every “what to pack for uni” vlog suggests that you need to buy multiple extension cords before moving to uni, however it’s always a good idea to check what your accommodation has before you splash out on several new electrical devices.

The majority of University of York accomms for 2024, particularly the newer builds on Campus East, have an abundance of plug sockets – too many really. You’ll also generally get multiple pinboards, big wall shelves, a bedside cupboard, and some bits for en-suites. However, it’s worth checking your particular college and block, maybe ask about in some group chats!

Related articles recommended by this author:

•We asked Uni of York students for their best advice for incoming freshers

•Whether you’re first or third year, these places need to be on your York summer bucket list

•From Halifax to James, here’s how the students of Uni of York colleges spend their summer